One year on: the senior SAPS figures swept up as Mkhwanazi’s briefing reshaped the service

One year after KwaZulu‑Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant‑General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s July 6 briefing, South Africa’s police service remains under intense scrutiny as investigations and disciplinary processes continue to unpick allegations of corruption, political interference and criminal infiltration.

What Mkhwanazi exposed and the fallout

According to IOL, Mkhwanazi’s on‑camera allegations accused senior police leaders of corruption, political interference and allowing organised crime to penetrate parts of the South African Police Service (SAPS). His claims included an account that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was ordered to be disbanded and more than 120 active case dockets seized, bypassing National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.

The allegations triggered criminal and disciplinary probes, and prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish the Madlanga Commission to investigate claims of corruption, criminal infiltration, procurement irregularities and political interference within SAPS.

Who has been affected

According to IOL, a wave of suspensions, dismissals, arrests and resignations among senior SAPS personnel followed. IOL reports an interactive tracker showing counts including five arrested or dismissed and 17 suspended or resigned amid the unfolding inquiries and the Medicare24 tender fraud exposed during the Madlanga Commission.

IOL names a number of senior officers who have been suspended, dismissed, arrested or have resigned. Those explicitly identified by IOL include:

• General Fannie Masemola suspended as National Police Commissioner in April 2026 and arrested over allegations relating to an irregular R228 million health tender, according to IOL.
• Lieutenant‑General Shadrack Sibiya suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner; IOL reports he has been arrested and investigated for alleged collusion with tenderpreneurs and interference in politically motivated murder investigations.
• Major‑General Richard Shibiri former Head of the SAPS Organised Crime Unit, officially dismissed, according to IOL.
• Brigadier Rachel Matjeng dismissed following internal processes tied to her role on the controversial tender committee, IOL reports.
• Sergeant Fannie Nkosi described by IOL as a suspended police officer who had bail refused by the Pretoria High Court.
• Other senior figures named by IOL as drawn into investigations or disciplinary processes include Maj‑Gen Busisiwe Precious Temba, Maj‑Gen Lesetja Senona, Maj‑Gen Ebrahim Kadwa and Maj‑Gen Thokozani N. Mathonsi, along with several lieutenant‑generals, brigadiers, colonels and captains.

The Medicare24 / SAPS Health Risk Management tender

According to IOL, the spotlight has fallen on the R360‑million SAPS Health Risk Management contract also referred to as the Medicare24 police health services tender and on businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, described by IOL as a controversial figure linked to the procurement.

IOL reports that the SAPS suspended five additional senior officers over the R360 million police health services tender awarded to Matlala, and that twelve senior police officers were arrested in connection with the awarding of the R360m Medicare24 Tshwane District contract. IOL adds that those criminal cases remain before the courts.

What comes next

IOL reports that the allegations and associated criminal matters remain before investigative and judicial processes. The Madlanga Commission was established to determine what happened inside SAPS; IOL says the commission is expected to deliver its last report on August 31.

The legal and commission processes will determine responsibility and outcomes. For now, the past year has left the police service confronting unprecedented questions about integrity, procurement and the reach of organised crime into state structures.